Fabricating Past Accomplishments (to acquire documentary subject)

M

MPemulis

Hi there.

I approached the agent of a really quite obscure TV personality to enquire about the possibility of creating a close-up documentary with said TV personality at its centre. The only problem is that the agent would like to know my past accomplishments in the field of documentaries and, put simply, I don't have any.

Basically I'd like to know if anyone's got any tips about fabricating past accomplishments - can I get away with saying I did sound/editing/whatever on another's film (even though I haven't)? Could I pretend I've just graduated from a certain prestigious film course (without, of course, having anything concrete to show for it)? Can I convince anyone to give me a false reference? Or should I just come clean and say I'm young, inexperienced, looking for a chance, etc.? Also, from what I can tell, the agent seems the pre-internet type, and so I doubt he'd be too thorough in the research department (though this could be sheer naivety on my part).

Anyway, if anyone can offer any advice on this, I'd really, really, really appreciate it.

Thanks.
 
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Tell them the truth. Do you really have no experience at all? If that's the case, maybe you should put some time in on a few short doc projects just to get some practice, and then if those turn out well you'll also have something to show them to prove it's worth their time.
 
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"Honesty is the best policy."

Always tell the truth. You can use positive wording once you do have some experience; that's called marketing.

the agent seems the pre-internet type, and so I doubt he'd be too thorough in the research department
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Folks like that have people who can do research for them.

come clean and say I'm young, inexperienced, looking for a chance
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That's what you should do.

Ask for a meeting with them. Be thoroughly prepared. Have a budget (or how you plan to overcome the lack thereof), have a "message," tell them why you want to do this project, be positive, be professional. If you have any other accomplishments - directing, editing, etc. - list them. If you show professionalism and, most especially, passion, they may be willing to take a chance on you.

The worst they can say is no. You may even leave with a couple of phone numbers or email adresses you can use later on, even if they nix your project right now.

The biggest issue is your integrity. As you move along with your career people need to trust you. Starting your career with a lie is a bad way to begin.
 
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